Individual segment adhesive correction weight

ABSTRACT

A weight for correcting imbalance in a rotary element includes a number of discrete weights. The number of discrete weights is selected to substantially correct the imbalance. A piece of double sided tape has sufficient length for the number of discrete weights to be adhered to the length of double sided tape. A removable film protects the side of the tape opposite the side to which the discrete weights are adhered. The film reduces the likelihood of contamination until the film is removed to expose the side of the tape opposite the side to which the discrete weights are adhered, permitting the weight to be applied to the rotary element.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a balancing device for correctingimbalance in rotary elements. The invention is disclosed in the contextof a wheel balancing device including correction weight for correctingimbalance in vehicle wheel-and-tire assemblies. The invention isbelieved to be useful in other applications as well.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Weights for application to rotary elements, such as vehicle wheeland tire assemblies to correct imbalance in such elements, are known.There are, for example, the systems illustrated and described in U.S.Pat. No. 3,960,409 and the references cited in that patent. There arealso the devices described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,029,132; 2,640,727;3,154,347; 3,177,039; 3,273,941; 3,748,910; 3,786,850; 3,905,648;4,300,803; 4,379,596; 5,557,043; 5,831,152; and, 5,959,205. Thedisclosures of those references are hereby incorporated herein byreference. No representation is intended that a complete search has beenmade of the prior art or that no better art than that listed isavailable, and no such representation should be inferred. This listingshall not be construed to be an admission that the listed referencesare, or are considered to be, material to patentability.

[0003] In recent years, some vehicle wheel designs have evolved that donot permit the use of pound-on imbalance correcting weights on theoutwardly facing, or “curb” side of the wheel. These wheels aresometimes called “flangeless” or “soft face” wheels. Flangeless or softface wheels generally require adhesive weights to be applied from thecar side of the tire and wheel assembly to the inside diameter of thewheel to correct some portion of the imbalance in the assembly.Currently, an operator selects a specific size weight from a row ofbins, removes the protective tape and applies the weight to the wheel.This process is slow and it is easy for the operator to select the wrongweight. In addition, typical currently available adhesive weights aremade from pieces of lead with protective coatings to reduce thelikelihood of direct worker contact with the lead. These one-pieceweights are preformed to a specific wheel radius. Workers sometimesreshape the weights to the radius of a wheel for which the weights werenot originally made. Otherwise, optimal adherence of the adhesive weightwill not be achieved. These characteristics lead to additional work andrework at imbalance correcting stations for wheel and tire assemblies.

[0004] Another currently available system pulls extruded lead, withadhesive already applied, from a coil of extruded lead, forms theextruded lead to a particular radius, and then cuts the amount ofextruded lead necessary to achieve a particular amount of imbalancecorrection. Weights formed using this system leave the ends of the leadweights exposed to contact with workers. This exposed lead isunacceptable to many manufacturers. Also, as noted, this system formsthe extruded lead to only one radius. Again, this means that if theweight is to be applied to a wheel having another radius, the workermust reshape the weight to the desired curvature. Additionally, lead isheavy, resulting in the coils having limited capacity. This results infrequent replacement of the somewhat unwieldy coils.

[0005] The weight of the present invention is intended to address anumber of these shortcomings of prior art weight application systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] According to the invention, a weight for correcting imbalance ina rotary element includes a number of discrete weights. The number ofdiscrete weights is selected to substantially correct the imbalance. Theinvention further includes a length of double sided tape sufficient forthe number of discrete weights to be adhered to the length of doublesided tape. A removable film protects the side of the tape opposite theside to which the discrete weights are adhered. The film reduces thelikelihood of contamination until the film is removed to expose the sideof the tape opposite the side to which the discrete weights are adhered,permitting the weight to be applied to the rotary element.

[0007] Illustratively according to the invention, the discrete weightsare substantially uniform in weight.

[0008] Further illustratively according to the invention, the length ofdouble sided tape is elastic, permitting it to stretch slightly duringapplication to the rotary element.

[0009] Additionally illustratively according to the invention, thediscrete weights are coated with a coating which reduces the likelihoodof contact by someone handling the weight with the discrete weights.

[0010] Illustratively according to the invention, each of the discreteweights includes an external surface, the entirety of which is coatedwith the coating.

[0011] Illustratively according to the invention, the discrete weightsare substantially uniform in configuration.

[0012] Further illustratively according to the invention, the discreteweights are generally right rectangular prism shaped.

[0013] Additionally illustratively according to the invention, thediscrete weights have somewhat rounded corners between at least twoadjacent sides providing a detectable boundary between adjacent discreteweights to aid in determining the number of discrete weights in theweight.

[0014] Illustratively according to the invention, each of the discreteweights includes an upper surface spaced apart from the double sidedtape, and a lower surface that is coupled to the double sided tape. Afirst side and a second side connect the upper surface and the lowersurface. The lower surface of each of the discrete weights is planarfrom its junction with the first side to its junction with the secondside.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The invention may best be understood by referring to thefollowing detailed description and accompanying drawings whichillustrate the invention. In the drawings:

[0016]FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a vehicle wheel-and-tireassembly having an amount of imbalance correcting weight in the form ofdiscrete, coated weights, adhered to an inner, or vehicle side, rim ofthe wheel;

[0017]FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged, fragmentary elevation view of theassembly illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0018]FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an amount ofimbalance correcting weight in the form of discrete, adhesive coatedweights and a protective backing strip;

[0019]FIG. 4 illustrates an assembled view of the components illustratedin FIG. 3;

[0020]FIG. 5 illustrates a top plan view of the components illustratedin FIGS. 3-4;

[0021]FIG. 6 illustrates an enlarged fragmentary side elevation view ofthe assembled components illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5;

[0022]FIG. 7 illustrates a much enlarged detail of the view illustratedin FIG. 6;

[0023]FIG. 8 illustrates an enlarged fragmentary side elevation view ofthe assembled components illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6 applied tothe rim of a vehicle wheel;

[0024]FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a dispensing mechanismincluding a spool supporting a supply of balancing weights constructedaccording to the invention;

[0025]FIG. 10 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of themechanism illustrated in FIG. 9;

[0026]FIG. 11 illustrates a fragmentary side elevational view of adetail of the mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 9-10; and

[0027]FIG. 12 illustrates an end elevational view of a single discreteweight.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

[0028] A weight assembly 10 includes a weight 11 and a protectivebacking strip 38 configured to be coupled to a rotary element 49, suchas a wheel-and-tire assembly, to correct imbalance in the rotary element49, as illustrated in, for example, FIGS. 1-3. To correct imbalance inwheel-and-tire assembly 49, a length 45 of weight 11 which is sufficientsubstantially to cure the imbalance in the wheel-and-tire assembly 49 isadhered to a radially inwardly facing, generally cylindrical surface 44of a vehicle wheel 13, as illustrated in, for example, FIGS. 1 and 2.Weight 1 includes at least one discrete coated weight 14 ofsubstantially uniform right rectangular prism shape and size and acontinuous strip of double-side, stretchable adhesive tape 16 ofsufficient length and width to hold the number of discrete weights 14required to substantially cure the imbalance in the wheel-and-tireassembly 49 onto surface 44 of wheel 13, as illustrated in, for example,FIGS. 3-6, 8 and 11. Adhesive tape 16 illustratively is a polyurethanefoam with an acrylic adhesive, such as, for example, 0.8 millimeterthick NORMOUNT® Z530 mounting tape from Norton Company of Worcester,Mass.

[0029] As will be explained, weight 11 is configured to accommodatesurfaces 44 presenting a wide variety of radii of curvature. Using auniform configuration of discrete weights 14 minimizes the number ofweights an operator must maintain in his or her inventory. It furtheravoids having to maintain separate storage bins for each of a variety ofweight sizes and/or configurations, so that the operator does not needto select different weights from different storage bins to correct animbalance.

[0030] Weight 11 is arranged in strip form to permit a dispenser 46 todispense sections 45 of weight 11 having the desired weight to correctimbalances in the range of imbalances encountered in wheel-and-tireassemblies 49 from a supply 47 of weight 11 stored on a spool 15, asillustrated in, for example, in FIGS. 9-11. In the illustratedembodiment, dispenser 46 is configured to provide lengths 45 ofbalancing weight 11 having from one to thirty-five discrete weights 14.

[0031] Continuous protective backing strip 38 is coupled to adhesivetape 16 before section 45 of weight 11 is secured to vehicle wheel 13,as illustrated in, for example, in FIGS. 3-5. Protective backing strip38 is coupled to adhesive surface 19 of tape 16 to protect surface 19from contamination until protective backing strip 38 is peeled offsurface 19 as at 48 and surface 19 applied to surface 44 of wheel 13, asillustrated in, for example, FIG. 1.

[0032] Discrete weights 14 are illustrated in, for example, FIGS. 3-6.Discrete weights 14 are generally uniform in size, shape and weight.Each discrete weight 14 includes generally flat, generally parallel sidesurfaces 20, 21 and 22, 23, generally flat, generally parallel endsurfaces 24, 25, and rounded corners 26, 27, 28, 29. Surface 20 of eachdiscrete weight 14 is adhered to surface 31 of adhesive tape 16. Thelong dimensions of discrete weights 14 extend generally transverselyacross the length of tape 16.

[0033] The illustrated discrete weights 14 are substantially square incross-section transverse to their longitudinal extents 32, asillustrated in, for example, FIG. 6. The illustrated discrete weights 14have somewhat narrower dimensions 33 lengthwise of tape 16. Anillustrative dimension 33 is about 4.5 millimeters and an illustrativelength 34 is about 16.2 millimeters.

[0034] Each discrete weight 14 illustratively is made of lead. Theentire external surface 17 of each discrete weight 14 is coated with aprotective coating 18 made of a polymer material to protect operatorshandling weights 11 against exposure to lead. Coating 18 is illustratedin, for example, FIG. 7. The lead in the discrete weights 14 is thusmore or less completely coated with protective coating 18. In anillustrative embodiment, each discrete weight 14 weighs about 3.5 grams(about one-eighth ounce). As previously noted, each of corners 26, 27,28, 29 is rounded as indicated at 35 so that recesses 36 are formedbetween adjacent discrete weights 14, as illustrated, for example, withrespect to discrete weights 14 a, 14 b, and 14 c in FIGS. 6, 7, and 12.Recesses 36 are configured to permit a dispenser mechanism 46 todistinguish between individual, discrete weights 14 to select the numberof discrete weights 14 required for a particular imbalance correctionapplication. In preferred embodiments, radius 35 is about 0.75millimeters Discrete weights 14 of representative section 45 are alignedalong adhesive tape 16, as illustrated for example, in FIG. 5.Longitudinal extent 32 of each discrete weight 14 is substantiallyperpendicular to a longitudinal extent 37 of adhesive tape 16. Endsurfaces 24, 25 of each discrete weight 14 lie adjacent edges 42, 43 ofadhesive tape 16. Discrete weights 14 are oriented side by sidegenerally parallel to one another. Depending upon the orientation ofweight 11, adjacent discrete weights 14 may or may not contact oneanother. However, in the illustrative embodiment, the discrete weights14 contact each other substantially from end to end on adjacent faces toreduce to a minimum the length of tape 16 required to correct a givenimbalance. When weight 11 is placed on a flat surface before adhesivetape 16 is stretched, adjacent side surfaces 22, 23 are flat against oneanother substantially from end surface 24 to end surface 25, asillustrated, for example, in FIGS. 4-6.

[0035] When weight 11 is placed on a convex surface before adhesivesurface 16 is stretched, such as when weight 11 is wound around spool15, discrete weights 14 lie radially outwardly relative to the portionof adhesive tape 16 to which discrete weights 14 are secured, asillustrated, for example, in FIGS. 9-11. Adjacent discrete weights 14positioned along a larger radius of curvature may contact one anothernear respective edges 26, 27, as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 11,while adjacent discrete weights 14 positioned along a smaller radius ofcurvature are more likely to become spaced apart from one another.

[0036] When protective backing strip 38 is removed from wheel-adheringsurface 19 and weight 11 is secured to a concave surface, such assurface 44, adjacent discrete weights 14 contact one another at alocation toward respective edges 28, 29 such that adjacent discreteweights 14 and adhesive tape 16 cooperate to form a somewhattriangular-shaped space 39 between adjacent discrete weights 14, asillustrated, for example, in FIG. 8. At the same time, adhesive tape 16is stretched to accommodate a radius of curvature of wheel 13 so thatadhesive tape 16 conforms to surface 44 to secure discrete weights 14thereto. Surfaces 20 of adjacent discrete weights 14 lie farther apartfrom one another when adhesive tape 16 is stretched than when it is not.

[0037] The configuration of each of discrete weights 14, the arrangementof discrete weights 14 along surface 31, and the stretchability ofadhesive tape 16 cooperate so that substantially the entire surface 19of a section 45 of weight 11 adheres to rim surface 44, as illustrated,for example, in FIGS. 2 and 8. At the same time, substantially theentire surface 20 of each discrete weight 14 is effectively coupled tosurface 44 through adhesive tape 16. Thus, weight 11 accommodates a widevariety of vehicle wheel radii of curvature using uniform discreteweights 14 without requiring reformation of discrete weights 14 to fitweight 11 to a particular vehicle wheel size.

[0038] To balance wheel 13, a section 45 of weight 11 is obtained fromsupply 47, as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 10 and 11. Dispensermechanism 46 counts out the required number of discrete weights 14 tocorrect an imbalance using edges 28, 29 in the counting process todistinguish between individual, discrete weights 14. Protective backingstrip 38 is removed to expose surface 19 for adhesion to surface 44.Dispenser mechanism 46 severs tape 16 at a location between adjacentdiscrete weights 14 without damaging protective coating 18 to providethe required amount of weight for the particular imbalance correctionapplication. In the illustrated embodiment, dispenser mechanism 46provides weight 11 having from one to 35 discrete weights 14.

[0039] Surface 19 of section 45 of weight 11 is then applied to rimsurface 44, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Adhesive strip 16 isconformed to surface 44 to accommodate the wheel 13's radius ofcurvature. Typically, each discrete weight 14 is oriented generallyparallel to wheel 13's axis of rotation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A weight for correcting imbalance in a rotaryelement, the weight including a number of discrete weights, the numberselected to substantially correct the imbalance, a length of doublesided tape sufficient for the number of discrete weights to be adheredto the length of double sided tape, the length of double sided tapebeing elastic, permitting it to stretch slightly during application tothe rotary element, and a removable film for protecting the side of thetape opposite the side to which the discrete weights are adhered toreduce the likelihood of contamination until the film is removed toexpose the side of the tape opposite the side to which the discreteweights are adhered, permitting the weight to be applied to the rotaryelement.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the discrete weights aresubstantially uniform in weight.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein thediscrete weights are substantially uniform in configuration.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 3 wherein the discrete weights are generally rightrectangular prism shaped.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein thediscrete weights are coated with a coating which reduces the likelihoodof contact by someone handling the weight with the discrete weights. 6.The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each of the discrete weights includesan external surface, the entirety of which is coated with the coating.7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the discrete weights have somewhatrounded corners between at least two adjacent sides providing adetectable boundary between adjacent discrete weights to aid indetermining the number of discrete weights in the weight.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the discrete weights have somewhat roundedcorners between at least two adjacent sides providing a detectableboundary between adjacent discrete weights to aid in determining thenumber of discrete weights in the weight.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1wherein each of the discrete weights includes an upper surface spacedapart from the double sided tape, a lower surface coupled to the doublesided tape, and first and second sides connecting the upper surface andthe lower surface, the lower surface of each of the discrete weightsbeing planar from its junction with the first side to its junction withthe second side.
 10. A weight for correcting imbalance in a rotaryelement, the weight including a number of discrete weights, the numberselected to substantially correct the imbalance, a length of doublesided tape sufficient for the number of discrete weights to be adheredto the length of double sided tape, the discrete weights coated with acoating which reduces the likelihood of contact by someone handling theweight with the discrete weights, and a removable film for protectingthe side of the tape opposite the side to which the discrete weights areadhered to reduce the likelihood of contamination until the film isremoved to expose the side of the tape opposite the side to which thediscrete weights are adhered, permitting the weight to be applied to therotary element.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the discreteweights are substantially uniform in configuration.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 11 wherein the discrete weights are generally right rectangularprism shaped.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the discrete weightshave somewhat rounded corners between at least two adjacent sidesproviding a detectable boundary between adjacent discrete weights to aidin determining the number of discrete weights in the weight.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 10 wherein the length of double sided tape iselastic, permitting it to stretch slightly during application to therotary element.
 15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the discreteweights are substantially uniform in configuration.
 16. The apparatus ofclaim 15 wherein the discrete weights are generally right rectangularprism shaped.
 17. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the discrete weightshave somewhat rounded corners between at least two adjacent sidesproviding a detectable boundary between adjacent discrete weights to aidin determining the number of discrete weights in the weight.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 10 wherein each of the discrete weights includes anexternal surface the entirety of which is coated with the coating. 19.The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each of the discrete weights includesan upper surface spaced apart from the double sided tape, a lowersurface coupled to the double sided tape, and first and second sidesconnecting the upper surface and the lower surface, the lower surface ofeach of the discrete weights being planar from its junction with thefirst side to its junction with the second side.